Holland America vs. Princess

While Holland America and Princess Cruises both offer terrific cruise vacations and are beloved by fans, the onboard experiences you get from them are totally different.

Generally speaking, Holland America appeals to an older demographic that prefer fine dining, live music and a subdued evening atmosphere -- though the line is trying to change its reputation by livening up its onboard offerings. Princess Cruises attracts an active crowd that is both young and young-at-heart. While the line attracts plenty of kids and younger professionals, age on Princess Cruises is less a matter of years lived and more a matter of who's going to be the first one to sign up for the belly-flop competition (or if not sign up, at least get a front row seat). Cruisers often say Holland America is the line they take without their grandkids, while Royal is for the whole family.

To help you pick the cruise line that fits your needs, Cruise Critic pits Princess Cruises vs. Holland America in a head-to-head comparison. There is no winner -- except you and your cruising party (even if you're a party of one) when you find the line that's the perfect match.

Pricing

Pricing is dependent on several factors, including ship booked, destination and length of cruise; when compared to weeklong Princess cruise fares, Holland America prices tend to be pretty comparable, though entry-level and suite pricing can be less expensive than on Princess

Prices include meals in the main dining room and a handful of casual venues, but all alternative restaurants cost extra

Alaska and Caribbean sailings draw families, couples and groups of friends in all age brackets

Ships sailing longer, exotic itineraries draw a 55-plus crowd

Itineraries/Destinations/Homeports

Neither Princess nor Holland America keeps any of their ships in a single port all year long, both preferring to schedule itineraries according to seasonal cruise trends, such as Alaska in the summer and Caribbean in the fall and winter. Speaking of Alaska, Princess and Holland America offer the most comprehensive Alaska cruise programs in the cruise industry. Both also offer exotic cruises in far-flung destinations all over the globe.

Suite perks are more extensive than Holland America's perks and include free dinner at an alternative restaurant on embarkation night, priority embarkation/debarkation, butler service, free laundry and suites-only breakfast in a specialty restaurant

Limited family room options include connecting cabins and family suites with full baths (on select ships only)

Dining

Holland America

Main dining room options include traditional (same time and tablemates each night) and the flexible As You Wish program (choose when and at which table you want to eat on a nightly basis)

Up to four specialty restaurants on all ships (all for a fee), except on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, which have more

Main dining room menus feature select dishes from members of the line's Culinary Council, including chefs David Burke, Elizabeth Faulkner and Jacques Torres

One to three formal nights per cruise (depending on voyage length), requiring cruisers to swap out casual wear for fancier attire

Princess Cruises

Dining room options include traditional fixed dining with early or late seating choice, and the flexible Anytime Dining program (except on Pacific Princess, which only has traditional)

Few specialty restaurant choices, with most included in the cruise fare; the newest ships (Royal Princess and Regal Princess) have a larger selection of for-fee eateries

A partnership with celebrity chef Curtis Stone brings "Crafted by Curtis" menu items to the main dining rooms on all ships, as well as the Share by Curtis Stone restaurant (on select ships) and the Chef's Table by Curtis Stone experience

Pool Deck Fun

All ships have at least one main pool and five whirlpools; several also have an aft pool, an extra-fee indoor therapeutic pool and/or a teen-only pool

Minimal pool games on warm-weather sailings

Princess Cruises

At least three pools and five hot tubs on most ships, including an aft pool and (on select ships) one beneath a retractable roof

When sailing in the Caribbean, silly games might be played poolside on sea days

The adults-only Sanctuary (some of which have a pool) offers cruisers a quiet pool/sun deck alternative

Current and favorite films shown daily on the pool/sun decks as part of the line's Movies Under the Stars program

Sports Deck Fun

Holland America

Offers a jogging track and basketball court on all ships, and either a volleyball or tennis court

Princess Cruises

Offers shuffleboard and a jogging track on all ships; most also have a basketball court

All ships have some type of golf space onboard, ranging from a practice cage to a nine-hole putting course (varies by ship)

Indoor Fun

Holland America

Daily activities include a blend of fun activities -- trivia, arts and crafts and dance classes -- and educational programs (designed via partnerships with BBC Earth and the Digital Workshop Powered by Windows)

Cooking demonstrations and classes are offered in the Culinary Arts Center; wine lovers can enjoy tastings at the onboard Wine Tasting Bar (on most ships) or try the Chateau Ste. Michelle wine-tasting and blending experience (only on Koningsdam)

Princess Cruises

Daily activities might include arts and crafts, dance classes, trivia, bingo and Voice of the Ocean rehearsals (a singing competition created in partnership with TV's "The Voice")

Destination-specific lectures and educational programs are offered on sailings in Alaska, Hawaii, Asia and the South Pacific

Select ships have a multi-deck piazza-style atrium, a hub for dining and entertainment

Nightlife

Holland America

B.B. King's Blues Club, a nightly show in the Queen's Lounge, is available on eight ships

The same eight ships feature Lincoln Center Stage, bringing high-quality, live chamber music (including classical covers of popular tunes) to the high seas, while seven of these have Billboard Onboard, an amped-up piano bar featuring chart-topping hits from the past 50 years

Main-stage theater entertainment includes musical revues, as well as one-off comedy and magic acts; several ships feature a made-for-Princess musical created in collaboration with Stephen Schwartz, the Oscar-winning composer of "Wicked," "Pippin" and "Godspell"

Live music available nightly in most bars and lounges

Nightly wine tastings or wine-and-chocolate pairings are offered at the Vines wine bar

Three kids clubs (except on Pacific Princess): Princess Pelicans (ages 3 to 7), Shockwaves (ages 8 to 12) and the Teen Club (ages 13 to 17)

Activities are provided through a partnership with the Discovery Channel, primarily themed around TV shows from the Discovery, Animal Planet, Learning and Science channels

A kids' splash pool is on all ships (except Pacific Princess); select ships also have teen-only hot tubs

Select ships offer two-room family suites

All ships have self-service laundry rooms

Tradition vs Innovation

Holland America

One of, if not the most traditional of the North America-based cruise lines, emphasizing main dining rooms, dressing well, live music and an overall dignified vibe

Holland America is updating its onboard experience through partnerships, including teaming up with Lincoln Center and Billboard to offer innovative music venues on select ships, as well as with BBC Earth for a variety of educational programs

Technological innovations such as the SeaWalk, a transparent glass walkway suspended off the side of the ship 16 decks above the water, are limited to the line's newest ships (Royal Princess and Regal Princess)